Direction-indicator for vehicles



w. F. ROITERMUND. DIRECTION INDICATOR FOR VEHICLES. APPLICATION FILED IAN.3I, I918. RENEWED APR. 26; I920- 1 344, 6 54:. I Patented June 29, 1920.

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WILLIAM F. ROTERMUND, OF SEATTLE, WASHINGTON.

DIRECTION-INDICATOR FOR VEHICLES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 29,1920.

Application filed January 31. 1918.;Seria1 No. 214.579. Renewed April 26, 1920. Serial No. 376,737.

it) (ill IUILIOHI it may concern:

Be it known that l, \ViLLrA r F. Rornn- MUNI), citizen of thc l nit-cd States, residing at Seattle, in the county of King and State of \Vashington, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Direction-Indicators for Vehicles, of which the following is a specification. v

This invention relates to'improvements in direction indicators for vehicles and has for its principal object to provide an improved and novel electrically operated device for indicating to others the direction in which the driver of a vehicle intends to turn the vehicle; to provide in a device of the class previously described a 'revolubly mounted indicating hand and electrically operated means for revolvingthe same in either predetermined direction.

Other objects will appearas my invention is more fully explained in the following specification, illustrated in the accompanying drawings and pointed out in the appended claim.

Inv the drawings Figure l-is an end elevation of my devicewith parts broken away.

Fig. 2 is a cross sectional elevation of same taken along line m-m of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a plan view of my device with parts broken away and others omitted.

Referring more particularly to the draw* ings numeral 1 indicates-the fender of a vehicle, preferring an automobile, upon which my device is mounted. The device proper consists of an angular and'upstanding frame 2 upon either end of which is mounted a solenoid coil 3. The solenoid coils 3 are each provided with an independent tubular iron core 4 which is slidably mounted within a common brass tube 5. The independent iron cores are secured to opposite ends of a common wooden core 7 which insulates them from each other and at the same time ties them together. The solenoids are energized from a common source 8 through a switch 9 so that only one of the solenoids may be energized at a time and that they may be energized alternately. An upstand-' upstanding frame 2. It will thus be seen that when one or the other of the solenoid cells 3 is energized that there Will be a longitudinal movement of the iron cores and wooden core and that this movement will causethe upstanding arm 10 to swing the vides a bearing for the hand 14;. Upon the concaved side of the hand 14 a lamp socket 16 lsprovided and a small electric light bulb-17 is mounted in the socket 16. A reflection shield 18 is'positioned in front of lamp l7 and throws the light back against the concaved face of the hand 14 in order that the hand may be illuminated for night use. I provide spring means for retaining the hand in the position as shown or in the neutral position, that is, when the hand is lylng horizontal instead of vertical as shown. This spring means includes a pair of similar and opposite leaf springs 19 each of which is secured to the frame work of one of the solenoids 3 and after crossing the space ntermediate the solenoids is provided with an iron contact piece 20 which is positioned above the opposite solenoid. The springs are provided with indents 21 near the end upon which the iron piece 20 is secured and are adapted to engage an extension arm 22 which is outstanding from upstanding arm 10. A magnet 23 is carried up from each of the coils 3 and is in spaced relationship to the iron piece 20 in order that when the coil is energized the magnet will also be energized and will attract the iron piece 20 thus pulling down the free end of the spring 19. The pulling down of the free end of the spring bringsthe indent 21 in position to engage the extension member 22. When the coil of the solenoid 3 is no longer energized the iron piece 20 is released and the springs disengage the extension arm. In operation the switch arrangement 9 is conveniently located to the operator and one of the devices is placed on either side of the vehicle with the hand pointing upwardly and when it is desired to turn in that particular direction the op erator closes the switch which throws the core toward it thus swinging the bell crank lever 12 until the hand assumes a horizontal instead of a vertical position as shown.

In order to effect the lighting of' the hand when in the operating or up-right position as shown applicant provides two contact members 24 one of which is mounted upon the lever 12 and the other extended from the lip-standing frame 2. These contact members are so positioned that when the hand is drawn into up-right position they will be brought together. A source 25 is wired on one side to one of the contact members and on the other side to the other contact member after passing through the lamp socket 16.

Vhile I have shown a particular form of embodiment of my invention, I am aware that many minor changes therein will readily suggest themselves to others skilled in the art without departing .from the spirit and scope of the invention, and I'therefore desire to avoid being limited to the exact form shown and described.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent, is

A direction signal for automobiles comprising a support, a member rotatively mounted in said support, a signal element secured on said member, oppositely-disposed solenoids mounted on said support, the cores of the respective solenoids being connected for simultaneous movement, a connection between said cores and the signal carrying member, a lateral projection from said connection, a spring strip secured to each respective solenoid and having its free terminal overlying the other solenoid, and a magnetic element underlying each free terminal and adapted to attract such terminal when the particular solenoid is energized, each strip being formed to engage said lateral projection to hold said projection and thereby the signal element in proper position.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

WILLIAM F. 'RQT ERMUN D. 

